Abstract:

A structure described generally for altering one or more properties within
a body of water includes a vessel configured to hold water. The vessel
may have at least one wall. The at least one wall extends at least above
a mean surface water level. At least one conduit extends downward from
the holding vessel. The at least one conduit has a length that extends
below the surface of the water. A propulsion system may be coupled to at
least one of the vessel or the conduit and may be configured to provide
forces to the vessel.

Claims:

1. A structure for altering one or more properties within a body of water,
comprising:a vessel configured to hold water, the vessel having at least
one wall, the at least one wall extending at least above a mean surface
water level;at least one conduit extending downward from the holding
vessel, the at least one conduit having a length extending substantially
below the surface of the water; anda propulsion system coupled to at
least one of the vessel or the conduit and configured to provide force to
the vessel.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein at least one conduit extends to a
depth at which the properties to be altered differ substantially from
their values at the surface.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system comprises a
propeller.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system comprises a
reaction device.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system comprises a
reaction device that propels water.

6. The structure of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system comprises a
reaction device that propels air.

7. The structure of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system comprises a
fuel driven device.

8. The structure of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system comprises a
wind driven device.

10. The structure of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system comprises a
wave driven device.

11. The structure of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system comprises an
electrically driven device.

12. The structure of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system comprises a
stored energy driven device.

13. The structure of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system comprises a
sea-anchor.

14. A system for altering one or more properties within a body of water,
comprising:a vessel configured to hold water, the vessel having at least
one wall, the at least one wall extending at least above a mean surface
water level;at least one conduit extending downward from the holding
vessel, the at least one conduit having a length extending substantially
below the surface of the water; andat least one watercraft coupled to at
least one of the vessel or the conduit and configured to provide force to
the vessel.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one conduit extends to a
depth at which the properties to be altered differ substantially from
their values at the surface.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the watercraft comprises a tugboat.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the force is provided by pulling at
least one of the vessel or the conduit.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the force is provided by pushing at
least one of the vessel or the conduit.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the watercraft is coupled to a
propulsion system.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein multiple vessels or conduits are
coupled together.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein multiple vessels or conduits are
coupled together and towed by the watercraft.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein multiple vessels or conduits are
coupled together and pushed by the watercraft.

23. A method of maintaining a water alteration system,
comprising:providing at least one water alteration vessel, the vessel
being configured to hold water, the vessel having at least one wall, the
at least one wall extending at least above a mean surface water level and
at least one conduit extending downward from the holding vessel, the at
least one conduit having a length extending substantially below the
surface of the water; andattending the at least one water alteration
vessels by at least one watercraft.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein at least one conduit extends to a
depth at which the properties to be altered differ substantially from
their values at the surface.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:providing fuel to a power
source on board the vessel from the watercraft.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:linking more than one
vessel together.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising:linking more than one
vessel together and providing force to the more than one vessel by the
watercraft.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising:providing force to the at
least one vessel by the watercraft.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising:providing maintenance
services to the at least one vessel.

30. The method of claim 23, further comprising:maintaining a controlled
position of at least one vessel.

31. The method of claim 23, further comprising:maintaining at least one
vessel within a controlled region.

32. The method of claim 23, further comprising:causing at least one vessel
to travel along a controlled path.

33. The method of claim 23, further comprising:maintaining at least one
vessel in a controlled relationship relative to other vessels.

34. The method of claim 23, further comprising:maintaining multiple
vessels in a controlled relationship relative to each other.

35. The method of claim 23, further comprising:maintaining multiple
vessels in a controlled density.

36. The method of claim 23, further comprising:maintaining vessels within
a controlled range of each other.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]The present application is related to and claims the benefit of the
earliest available effective filing date(s) from the following listed
application(s) (the "Related Applications") (e.g., claims earliest
available priority dates for other than provisional patent applications
or claims benefits under 35 USC §119(e) for provisional patent
applications, for any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent,
etc. applications of the Related Application(s)).

[0005]The United States Patent Office (USPTO) has published a notice to
the effect that the USPTO's computer programs require that patent
applicants reference both a serial number and indicate whether an
application is a continuation or continuation-in-part. Stephen G. Kunin,
Benefit of Prior-Filed Application, USPTO Official Gazette Mar. 18, 2003,
available at
http://www.uspto.zov/web/offices/com/sol/og/2003/week11/patbene.htm. The
present Applicant Entity (hereinafter "Applicant") has provided above a
specific reference to the application(s) from which priority is being
claimed as recited by statute. Applicant understands that the statute is
unambiguous in its specific reference language and does not require
either a serial number or any characterization, such as "continuation" or
"continuation-in-part," for claiming priority to U.S. patent
applications. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Applicant understands that
the USPTO's computer programs have certain data entry requirements, and
hence Applicant is designating the present application as a
continuation-in-part of its parent applications as set forth above, but
expressly points out that such designations are not to be construed in
any way as any type of commentary and/or admission as to whether or not
the present application contains any new matter in addition to the matter
of its parent application(s).

[0006]All subject matter of the Related Applications and of any and all
parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc. applications of the Related
Applications is incorporated herein by reference to the extent such
subject matter is not inconsistent herewith.

BACKGROUND

[0007]The description herein generally relates to the field of alteration
of water temperatures and dissolved particulate matter in bodies of water
such as oceans, lakes, rivers, and structures capable of aiding in the
alteration and control of such surface and subsurface water temperatures
and compositions as well as controlling the movement of and placement of
such structures. The description also generally relates to the field of
structures and methods of maintaining water alteration systems.

[0008]Conventionally, there is a need for structures for applications
related to altering water properties such that there is a diminished
contrast between near surface waters and waters found at greater depth,
such as but not limited to atmospheric management, weather management,
hurricane suppression, hurricane prevention, hurricane intensity
modulation, hurricane deflection, biological augmentation, biological
remediation, etc. There is also a need for the maintenance and movement
of such systems to meet the dynamically changing environment.

SUMMARY

[0009]In one aspect, a method of maintaining a water alteration system
provides at least one water alteration vessel, the vessel being
configured to hold water. The vessel has at least one wall. The at least
one wall extends at least above a mean surface water level and at least
one conduit extends downward from the holding vessel, the at least one
conduit has a length extending substantially below the surface of the
water. The method also includes attending the at least one water
alteration vessels by at least one watercraft.

[0010]In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in
the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

[0011]In one or more various aspects, related systems include but are not
limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting the
herein-referenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming can be
virtually any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware
configured to effect the herein--referenced method aspects depending upon
the design choices of the system designer. Also various structural
elements may be employed depending on design choices of the system
designer.

[0012]In one aspect, a structure for altering one or more properties
within a body of water includes a vessel configured to hold water. The
vessel may have at least one wall. The at least one wall extends at least
above a mean surface water level. At least one conduit extends downward
from the holding vessel. The at least one conduit having a length
extending substantially below the surface of the water. A propulsion
system coupled to at least one of the vessel or the conduit and is
configured to provide force to the vessel.

[0013]In another aspect, a system for altering one or more properties
within a body of water includes a vessel configured to hold water. The
vessel has at least one wall. The at least one wall extends at least
above a mean surface water level. At least one conduit extends downward
from the holding vessel. The at least one conduit has a length extending
substantially below the surface of the water. At least one watercraft is
coupled to at least one of the vessel or the conduit and configured to
provide force to the vessel.

[0014]In addition to the foregoing, other system aspects are described in
the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

[0015]In addition to the foregoing, various other method and/or system
and/or program product aspects are set forth and described in the
teachings such as text (e.g., claims and/or detailed description) and/or
drawings of the present disclosure.

[0016]The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity,
simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail; consequently,
those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative
only and is NOT intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects,
features, and advantages of the devices and/or processes and/or other
subject matter described herein will become apparent in the teachings set
forth herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0017]The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be
in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects,
embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments,
and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the
following detailed description, of which:

[0018]FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a generalized vessel for holding
and moving water.

[0019]FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram of a pattern of deployment of a
plurality of vessels similar to that of FIG. 1.

[0020]FIG. 3 is another exemplary diagram of a pattern of deployment of a
plurality of vessels similar to that of FIG. 1.

[0021]FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram of a generalized vessel for holding
and moving water and depicting on-board propulsive devices.

[0022]FIG. 5 is a simplified depiction of a deployment of a plurality of
vessels such as those depicted in FIG. 1 in a geographic region, the
simplified depiction not intended to imply any specific scale and the
depiction of the vessels and watercraft not drawn to scale.

[0023]FIG. 6 is an exemplary block diagram of a generalized vessel for
holding and moving water having an auxiliary conduit.

[0024]FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram of a generalized vessel for holding
and moving water being towed by a watercraft.

[0025]FIG. 8 is an exemplary diagram of multiple generalized vessels for
holding and moving water being towed by a watercraft.

[0026]FIG. 9 is a process diagram of a method of providing maintenance and
entertainment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027]In the following detailed description, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar
symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates
otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed
description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other
embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without
departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.
Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the art
has progressed to the point where there is little distinction left
between hardware and software implementations of aspects of systems; the
use of hardware or software is generally (but not always, in that in
certain contexts the choice between hardware and software can become
significant) a design choice representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs.
Those having skill in the art will appreciate that there are various
vehicles by which processes and/or systems and/or other technologies
described herein can be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/or
firmware), and that the preferred vehicle will vary with the context in
which the processes and/or systems and/or other technologies are
deployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed and
accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardware
and/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, the
implementer may opt for a mainly software implementation; or, yet again
alternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware,
software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several possible vehicles by
which the processes and/or devices and/or other technologies described
herein may be effected, none of which is inherently superior to the other
in that any vehicle to be utilized is a choice dependent upon the context
in which the vehicle will be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g.,
speed, flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any of which
may vary. Those skilled in the art will recognize that optical aspects of
implementations will typically employ optically-oriented hardware,
software, and or firmware.

[0028]The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments
of the devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams,
flowcharts, and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts,
and/or examples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will
be understood by those within the art that each function and/or operation
within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,
individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,
firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment,
several portions of the subject matter described herein may be
implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field
Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or
other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art will
recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, in whole
or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integrated circuits, as
one or more computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as
one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or
more programs running on one or more processors (e.g., as one or more
programs running on one or more microprocessors), as firmware, or as
virtually any combination thereof, and that designing the circuitry
and/or writing the code for the software and or firmware would be well
within the skill of one of skill in the art in light of this disclosure.
In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms
of the subject matter described herein are capable of being distributed
as a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative
embodiment of the subject matter described herein applies regardless of
the particular type of signal bearing medium used to actually carry out
the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing medium include, but are
not limited to, the following: a recordable type medium such as a floppy
disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Video Disk (DVD),
a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and a transmission type medium
such as a digital and/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber
optic cable, a waveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless
communication link, etc.). Further, those skilled in the art will
recognize that the mechanical structures disclosed are exemplary
structures and many other forms and materials may be employed in
constructing such structures.

[0029]The need for mechanisms, devices, methods, systems, and structures
which may be used to alter hurricanes either in their strength, their
origin, or their direction of travel has been realized. Billions of
dollars of destruction and damage is regularly attributable to hurricanes
and hurricane-like tropical storms. Thus, great interest has arisen in
controlling these powerful storms. Conventionally, it has been proposed
to deploy barges equipped with upward-pointing jet engines into the paths
of hurricanes. The jet engines would theoretically be configured to
create mini-cyclones which would consume oceanic energy and thus prevent
or suppress such high powered weather systems.

[0030]Another potential solution involves the use of Dyn-O-Gel, a polymer
that may absorb as much as 1,500 times its own weight in water to deprive
a hurricane of atmospheric moisture. The concept involves the use of
airplanes to drop Dyno-O-Gel into hurricanes to deprive them of moisture
and thus of latent heat. The powder is suggested to convert into a gel
when the atmospheric moisture is captured and would then reliquify when
it encounters higher-osmolality ocean water.

[0031]The jet engine solution has been met with great skepticism and the
cost and feasibility are very uncertain. The use of a moisture absorbing
gel requires the deployment of a huge volume of the absorbing gel
material. Also, the use of a moisture absorbing material is still in the
testing phase. The gel material after absorbing moisture falls to the
ocean and may dissolve. Depending on the chemical composition of the gel,
the gel be regarded as a pollutant. These various shortcomings
considered, it may be desirable to provide a different approach for
altering hurricane and/or tropical storm activity by providing a
structure and method that solves at least one or more deficiencies of
other systems known in the art. Because hurricanes and other tropical
storms derive their energy from warm ocean water, it is logical to
harness the great energies of the Earth's fluid envelopes to suppress or
alter hurricanes or other tropical storms, and/or to employ the powers of
motion within these envelopes over long time-intervals to modulate at
least one property of an envelope that is exploited over much shorter
time-scales and/or much more limited spatial scales for energizing a
hurricane.

[0032]A potential solution for cooling warm surface water has been
explored by researchers with Atmocean, Inc. of Santa Fe, N. Mex. In the
Atmocean approach, an elongated tube with a buoy is used to create an
upwelling effect. The upwelling effect drives cold water from a depth to
the surface.

[0033]It is well known that a hurricane's primary energy source is the
release of the heat of condensation of water vapor condensing at high
altitudes, with solar-derived heat being the initial source for
evaporation. Therefore, a hurricane may be seen as a giant vertical heat
engine, albeit one dependent upon mass supplied by largely horizontal
flows. Water condensation leads to higher wind speeds, as a fraction of
the released energy is converted immediately into thermal energy and
thence into mechanical energy, the faster winds and lower pressures
associated with them in turn cause increased surface evaporation and thus
even more subsequent condensation. Much of the released energy drives
updrafts that increase the height of speeding up condensation. This gives
rise to factors that provide the system with enough energy to be
self-sustaining, and result in a positive feedback loop that continues as
long as the tropical cyclone can draw energy from a thermal reservoir and
isn't excessively sheared along its vertical extent. In this case, the
heat source is the warm water at the surface of the ocean. Without this
thermal reservoir to support it a hurricane or other similar storm will
not commence, will be weaker, or will die out as the positive feedback
loop diminishes to sub-threshold levels or never gets above them.

[0034]Referring now to FIG. 1, a cross-section of a water-borne structure
or vessel 100 is depicted. Vessel 100 is a tub-like structure having one
or more walls 110 and a bottom 115. Vessel 100 may be held buoyant in the
water by one or more buoyancy tanks 120 which may be used to maintain the
buoyancy of vessel 100 and further may be used to control the height of
walls 110 above the water level. Vessel 100 also includes a conduit 125
whose horizontal cross section is substantially smaller than the
horizontal cross section of the tub portion 130 of the vessel defined by
walls 110. In an exemplary embodiment, conduit 125 extends well below the
ocean surface including depths below the ocean's thermocline.

[0035]In most circumstances, most of the sunlight impinging on the ocean
surface is absorbed in the surface layer. The surface layer therefore
heats up. Wind and waves move water in this surface layer which
distributes heat within it. The temperature may therefore be reasonably
uniform to depths extending a few hundred feet down from the ocean
surface. Below this mixed layer, however, the temperature decreases
rapidly with depth, for example, as much as 20 degrees Celsius with an
additional 150 m (500 ft) of depth. This area of rapid transition is
called the thermocline. Below it, the temperature continues to decrease
with depth, but far more gradually. In the Earth's oceans, approximately
90% of the mass of water is below the thermocline. This deep ocean
consists of layers of substantially equal density, being poorly mixed,
and may be as cold as -2 to 3° C.

[0036]Therefore, the lower depths of the ocean may be used as a huge
heat/energy sink which may be exploited by vessel 100. When vessel 100 is
deployed at sea, waves 135 may lap over the top of walls 110 to input
warm (relative to deeper waters) surface ocean water into tub 130. Tub
130 will fill to a level 140 which is above the average ocean level
depicted as level 145. Because of the difference between levels 140 and
145, a pressure head is created thereby pushing warm surface ocean water
in a downward direction 150 down through conduit 125 to exit into the
cold ocean depths (relative to near surface waters) through one or more
openings 155. In an exemplary embodiment, the depth of opening 155 may be
located below the ocean's thermocline, the approximate bottom of which is
depicted as line 160. This cycle will be continuous in bringing warm
surface ocean water to great depth as ocean waves continue to input water
into tub 130.

[0037]If many of vessel 100 are distributed throughout a region of water,
the temperature of the surface of the water may be altered. Referring to
FIG. 2, an array 200 of vessels 100 is depicted. Such vessels may be
arranged in a plurality of ways, including but not limited to positioning
them in a water region in an array, such as array 200, in a random
placement 300, as depicted in FIG. 3, within a region, and/or in any
other arrangement. It may be desirable to determine the most suitable
and/or optimal arrangements through computer modeling or other
techniques. Referring now to FIG. 5, it may be seen that many vessels 100
may be dispersed throughout hurricane prone regions such as but not
limited to the Gulf of Mexico 500 or the Caribbean Sea. Vessels 100,
depicted for illustrative purposes only and not to scale are shown being
dispersed in a relatively random pattern. Boats 510 may be used to tow
vessels to desired locations. Also, other means such as self propulsion,
airlifting, towing, or other methods to move vessels may also be used. In
another embodiment, vessels 100 may be anchored in a variety of ways,
including but not limited to anchored to the bottom, anchored using
subsurface weights, anchored using sea anchors, or anchored to each
other.

[0038]Referring again to FIG. 1 vessel 100 may be one vessel in a system
for altering water surface temperature. As such the tub 130 is one type
of a holding vessel configured to hold water. Tub 130 includes at least
one wall 110 (but may include multiple walls) which are coupled to a
bottom portion115. The at least one wall 110 extends above the water
level and the bottom portion 115 is configured to be submerged. At least
one conduit 125 extends from the bottom of the tub 130. In some, but not
necessarily all, applications, it may be desirable for conduit 125 to
have a length that extends to a depth at which the temperature of water
at the depth (e.g., below line 160) is substantially less than water at
the surface

[0039]Vessel 100 may be held buoyant by both the materials used to
construct vessel 100 as well as at least one ballast tank 120. Tanks 120
may be coupled to at least one pump 170 and at least one valve 180. In
accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the height of wall 110 above the
average water surface level may be varied and controlled depending on the
time-varying height of the local waves and depending on the desired flow
rate through conduit 125. One way in which to vary the height of wall 110
above the average water level 145 is to pump atmospheric air into tank
120 or out of tank 120. In conjunction with pump 170, valve 180 may be
used to draw water into or out of tanks 120. In accordance with another
exemplary embodiment, it may be desirable to have the ability to
mechanically raise or lower at least a portion of wall 110 relative to
the rest of the structure. It may also be desirable to control the
raising and lowering of all or part of wall 110 in response to conditions
adjacent to vessel 100 (e.g., water temperature, wave height).

[0040]In another embodiment, water flow into vessel 100 may be via
openings 175 in wall 110, rather than over the top of wall 110. Such
openings may be configured to preferentially allow flow into vessel 100,
instead of out of the vessel. In some embodiments, openings 175 are
passive, using flaps, checkvalves, rotating drums, or similar mechanisms
to support unidirectional flow. In other embodiments, openings 175 are
actively controlled, utilizing motorized or variable setpoint flow
control devices such as valves, flaps, rotating drums, or similar
mechanisms.

[0041]Walls 110 and bottom portion 115 as well as other parts of vessel
100 may be constructed of any of a variety of materials and preferably of
a material substantially resistant to degradation in water. For example,
vessel 110 may be substantially constructed from concrete, polymers, at
least one of metals or metal alloys, fabrics, reinforced fabrics, and/or
composite materials. In some applications, it may be advantageous for the
construction materials to resist degradation only for a limited period of
time, as degradation of the structure may diminish or eliminate
expenditures associated with post-application retrieval of the structure.
Furthermore, it may be advantageous to allow the structure to sink below
the water surface or to the water bottom after application, where
degradation may be preferred to occur. In an exemplary embodiment,
conduit 125 may be formed of any of a variety of materials including both
rigid materials and flexible materials. It may also be desirable to use
stiffening structures in the conduit depending on the type of materials
used. Such stiffening structures aid in maintaining the shape of conduit
125 under pressure and under stress. The stiffening structures may be
placed at one or more locations along the length of the conduit. Further,
such stiffening structures may be deployable and may aid in deployment
along with a conduit which may also be deployable from tub 130. In yet
another exemplary embodiment, it may be desirable to form vessel 100 from
a material which would be known to degrade over time. This may be useful
if it is known that a vessel has a desired lifespan or term of
usefulness. Once the vessel's use is done, the vessel could sink or be
sunk where it could subsequently degrade at a subsurface location.

[0042]In an exemplary embodiment the holding vessel or tub 110 has a
horizontal cross sectional dimension that is substantially greater than a
horizontal cross sectional dimension of the conduit 125. In another
exemplary embodiment holding vessel or tub 100 has a horizontal cross
sectional dimension and/or shape that is substantially the same as the
cross sectional dimension and/or shape as conduit 125. The pressure head
created by the weight of the column of water above the conduit which is
above the line 145 is used to pressurize the descending water in conduit
125. In an exemplary embodiment it may be convenient to have a power
source 190 on board vessel 100. Power source 190 may be any of a variety
of power sources, including but not limited to a solar cell, a wind
generator, a wave power generator, a turbine turned by water descending
in the conduit, a battery power source, a fuel powered power source, a
thermoelectric power source, etc.

[0043]In accordance with an embodiment a vessel 600 is depicted in FIG. 6
having a conduit 625. Disposed within conduit 625 is a turbine 630.
Turbine 630 may be driven by the flow of water through conduit 625.
Turbine 630 may be utilized for a variety of purposes including but not
limited to generating power for a variety of purposes, maintaining
buoyancy, controlling buoyancy, driving other turbines, increasing the
water flow through conduit 625, etc.

[0044]In accordance with other exemplary embodiments it may be desirable
to equip vessel 100 with one or more propulsion systems. Referring now to
FIG. 4, a propulsion system may be in the form of a sail or a propeller
450 or other motorized propulsion producing device. Such a propulsive
device may be powered by power source 460 or any other source of power.
The propulsion system may be used to control the positioning of vessel
100 such that it remains at a specific area, moves in a specific pattern,
and/or moves to a completely new location. A rudder 470, fin, sail, or
other steering device may be coupled to vessel 100 to help guide vessel
100. Alternatively, a sail or a propeller 450 may be configured to change
orientation to provide steering for vessel 100. Because different depths
in bodies of water often have currents flowing in different directions or
with different speeds, a propulsion system may involve the use of one or
more sea anchors with mechanisms and control systems to effect proper
placement of the sea anchors. In one exemplary embodiment, it may be
desirable to construct vessel 100 with a shape such that its coefficient
of drag is less in one direction than another. This may be accomplished
by making the dimensions of vessel 100 longer in one direction than
another, for example. Other methods and shapes may also be used to
produce such an effect.

[0045]In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, vessel 100 may
include a movable conduit in which at least a portion 480 of conduit 425
may be movable in various directions in order to provide a propulsive
force in a desired direction. In another exemplary embodiment, the
movable portion may be one or more openings 455 which may be controlled,
along the length of conduit 425. The propulsive force generated by water
flow through conduit 425 may also be varied by opening and closing
opening 485 using a controlled access device such as door 490 (or other
aperture control devices such as but not limited to valves, etc.) that
may control the flow rate through conduit 425.

[0046]In an exemplary embodiment walls 410 of vessel 100 may be formed of
multiple wall segments or multiple wall portions. The multiple wall
segments of walls 410 form a closed shape to contain water within vessel
100. The wall segments may be curved or straight, may be movable in such
a way as to help let in water or alternatively to release water. In one
exemplary embodiment, vessel 100 may be permanently anchored to the water
floor, temporarily anchored to the water floor, tied to a subsurface
weight, tied to one or more sea-anchors, or may be freely movable. In one
exemplary embodiment, vessel 100 is movable by coupling the vessel to a
propulsive vessel, such as a tugboat or the like. In another exemplary
embodiment, vessel 100 may include a wind capture structure, such as a
sail 495 that may be used to harness wind power for moving the holding
vessel. The wind capture structure may be used for controlling the amount
that the at least one wall of the holding vessel extends above the water,
that is it may also be used to provide lift to the holding vessel 100
structure, to help control how far above the water level that walls 410
extend. Sea anchors are functionally similar to sails, except instead of
extending up into the atmosphere they are deployed into the water. Thus,
sea anchors or current capture structures may be used for similar
purposes as sails and wind capture structures. These include moving or
holding the vehicle, generating power, providing lift, etc. Also in an
exemplary embodiment, vessel 100 may have a ramp area 475 or other wave
altering area that helps to control how the waves move water over the
sides of vessel 100. This wave-altering structure may be a static or
passive structure, or it may be an active device or structure having one
or more components that are actuated or powered in order to have a
time-dependent character or activity; the power for such purposes may be
derived from any of the power-providing means discussed above, or may be
derived from the wave-action itself. Further, in an exemplary embodiment,
vessel 100 may have any of a variety of shapes including but not limited
to circular, elongated, non-circular, shaped in a manner which aids in
passively controlling orientation relative to wave motion, etc.

[0047]Referring now to FIG. 6, a vessel 600 is depicted. Vessel 600
includes a conduit 625 in which a turbine 630 is driven by the downward
flow of water through conduit 625. In an exemplary embodiment, the
turning turbine may be used for a variety of purposes including providing
power, providing control, providing propulsive power, etc. In one
exemplary embodiment a secondary conduit 640 (which represents one or
more conduits) may be used to bring cold ocean water (such as below
thermocline 650) to upper areas of warmer surface water to aid in cooling
the warm surface water regions, enhance mixing of subsurface water with
surface water, enhance mixing of surface water with subsurface water,
raising subsurface nutrients to the surface, bringing surface nutrients
to subsurface regions, etc. In one exemplary embodiment, turbine 630 may
be used to drive a second turbine 635 in conduit 640 that pumps water up
through conduit 640. Further, other mechanisms may be used to bring
subsurface water upwards. In most places, deeper waters contain a greater
concentration of nutrients than surface water, so conduit 640 may also be
used to transport dissolved nutrients from deeper waters to waters near
the surface of the body of water.

[0048]Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8 are exemplary diagrams of one or more
generalized vessels 720 for holding and moving water, being towed by a
watercraft 710. Movement of vessels 720 may be accomplished by any of a
variety of methods and techniques including but not limited to those
depicted. In the example of FIG. 7, a single vessel 720 is being towed to
a desired position by a watercraft 710. As depicted in FIG. 8, multiple
vessels 720 may be linked together and towed by a watercraft 710.
Further, many other configurations may be used including self-propelled
vessels, linking powered vessels with unpowered vessels, etc. Further,
Vessels may be pulled, pushed or propelled.

[0049]Referring now to FIG. 9, a method 900 of maintaining an ocean water
alteration system includes providing at least one ocean water alteration
vessel (process 910). Such systems are used for a variety of reasons and
may be used at various locations therefore, such vessels may need to be
moved to address positioning issues and goals. Movement or maintenance
may be addressed by attending the at least one ocean water alteration
vessels by at least one watercraft (process 920). The maintenance may
include but is not limited to providing fuel for operations, or to repair
or maintain the vessel itself.

[0050]The capability of the systems and methods described to enhance
mixing between surface and subsurface water can be useful for other
applications in addition to thermally based weather modification. One
such application is to aid in ocean uptake of atmospheric CO2. Oceans are
natural CO2 sinks, and represent the largest active carbon sink on Earth.
This role as a sink for CO2 is driven by two processes, the solubility
pump and the biological pump. The former is primarily a function of
differential CO2 solubility in seawater and the thermohaline circulation,
while the latter is the sum of a series of biological processes that
transport carbon (in organic and inorganic forms) from the surface
near-euphotic zone to the ocean's interior.

[0051]The solubility pump is a nonbiological effect wherein CO2 first
dissolves in the surface layer of the ocean. This surface layer can
become saturated and its ability to absorb more carbon dioxide declines.
Use of this system to promote mixing between surface and subsurface water
enhances the efficacy of solubility pump in at least two manners; by net
transport of CO2-enriched water downwards, as well as by reducing the
temperature of the surface water, thereby increasing its ability to
dissolve CO2. The solubility pump enhancement induced by this system can
also be useful for increasing ocean uptake of other atmospheric gases,
such as methane, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, etc.

[0052]While the biological pump currently has a limited effect on CO2
uptake introduced into the atmosphere by human activities, there have
been suggestions to increase the carbon sequestration efficiency of the
oceans by increasing the surface-layer phytoplankton concentration, which
is in many instances limited by insufficient surface-layer nutrients.
Nitrates, silicates, and phosphates are, for instance, largely absent
from surface waters, yet are considerably more abundant in subsurface
oceans. These exemplary systems and methods can be used to mix surface
and subsurface waters, thereby transporting nutrients towards the
surface. This increase in surface nutrients can be useful in increasing
the CO2 biological pump by increasing surface-layer phytoplankton
concentrations. Increases in surface-layer nutrients can also be useful
for increasing populations of water-based fauna or flora, both in oceans
and in other water bodies, such as lakes, reservoirs, rivers, etc.

[0053]The benefits of these systems and methods in increasing mixing
between surface and subsurface water is not restricted to use in oceans,
but can also be beneficial in other bodies of water, such as lakes,
reservoirs, rivers, etc.

[0054]In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that the
various embodiments described herein can be implemented, individually
and/or collectively, by various types of electromechanical systems having
a wide range of electrical components such as hardware, software,
firmware, or virtually any combination thereof; and a wide range of
components that may impart mechanical force or motion such as rigid
bodies, spring or torsional bodies, hydraulics, and electro-magnetically
actuated devices, or virtually any combination thereof. Consequently, as
used herein "electromechanical system" includes, but is not limited to,
electrical circuitry operably coupled with a transducer (e.g., an
actuator, a motor, a piezoelectric crystal, etc.), electrical circuitry
having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry
having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at
least one application specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry
forming a general purpose computing device configured by a computer
program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by a computer
program which at least partially carries out processes and/or devices
described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computer program
which at least partially carries out processes and/or devices described
herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of
random access memory), electrical circuitry forming a communications
device (e.g., a modem, communications switch, or optical-electrical
equipment), and any non-electrical analog thereto, such as optical or
other analogs. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that
examples of electromechanical systems include but are not limited to a
variety of consumer electronics systems, as well as other systems such as
motorized transport systems, factory automation systems, security
systems, and communication/computing systems. Those skilled in the art
will recognize that electromechanical as used herein is not necessarily
limited to a system that has both electrical and mechanical actuation
except as context may dictate otherwise.

[0055]In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that the
various aspects described herein which can be implemented, individually
and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or
any combination thereof can be viewed as being composed of various types
of "electrical circuitry." Consequently, as used herein "electrical
circuitry" includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry having
at least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at
least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one
application specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming a
general purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g.,
a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which at
least partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein, or
a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at least
partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein),
electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of random
access memory), and/or electrical circuitry forming a communications
device (e.g., a modem, communications switch, or optical-electrical
equipment). Those having skill in the art will recognize that the subject
matter described herein may be implemented in an analog or digital
fashion or some combination thereof.

[0056]Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common within the
art to implement devices and/or processes and/or systems in the
fashion(s) set forth herein, and thereafter use engineering and/or
business practices to integrate such implemented devices and/or processes
and/or systems into more comprehensive devices and/or processes and/or
systems. That is, at least a portion of the devices and/or processes
and/or systems described herein can be integrated into other devices
and/or processes and/or systems via a reasonable amount of
experimentation. Those having skill in the art will recognize that
examples of such other devices and/or processes and/or systems might
include--as appropriate to context and application--all or part of
devices and/or processes and/or systems of (a) an air conveyance (e.g.,
an airplane, rocket, hovercraft, helicopter, etc.), (b) a ground
conveyance (e.g., a car, truck, locomotive, tank, armored personnel
carrier, etc.), (c) a building (e.g., a home, warehouse, office, etc.),
(d) an appliance (e.g., a refrigerator, a washing machine, a dryer,
etc.), (e) a communications system (e.g., a networked system, a telephone
system, a Voice over IP system, etc.), (f) a business entity (e.g., an
Internet Service Provider (ISP) entity such as Comcast Cable, Quest,
Southwestern Bell, etc), or (g) a wired/wireless services entity such as
Sprint, Cingular, Nextel, etc.), etc.

[0057]One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein described
components (e.g., steps), devices, and objects and the discussion
accompanying them are used as examples for the sake of conceptual clarity
and that various configuration modifications are within the skill of
those in the art. Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars
set forth and the accompanying discussion are intended to be
representative of their more general classes. In general, use of any
specific exemplar herein is also intended to be representative of its
class, and the non-inclusion of such specific components (e.g., steps),
devices, and objects herein should not be taken as indicating that
limitation is desired.

[0058]With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular
terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural
to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate
to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural
permutations are not expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

[0059]The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates different
components contained within, or connected with, different other
components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are
merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can be
implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense,
any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is
effectively "associated" such that the desired functionality is achieved.
Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular
functionality can be seen as "associated with" each other such that the
desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or
intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can
also be viewed as being "operably connected", or "operably coupled", to
each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components
capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being "operably
couplable", to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific
examples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically
mateable and/or physically interacting components and/or wirelessly
interactable and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically
interacting and/or logically interactable components.

[0060]While particular aspects of the present subject matter described
herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and
modifications may be made without departing from the subject matter
described herein and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended
claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and
modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of the subject
matter described herein. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the
invention is defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by
those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially
in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are
generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be
interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should
be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be
interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be
further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of
an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be
explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no
such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the
following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases
"at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However,
the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the
introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an"
limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation
to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same
claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one"
and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should
typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the
same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim
recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced
claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will
recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at
least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations,"
without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two
or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention
analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such
a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would
understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B,
and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B
alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together,
and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention
analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such
a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would
understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B,
or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B
alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together,
and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by
those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase
presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description,
claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the
possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both
terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the
possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."

[0061]While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein,
other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the
art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for
purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the
true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.